Cell Phone Policy & Pouches

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, Brewer High School will implement Yondr pouches to support a focused, distraction-free learning environment and to ensure compliance with Texas state law, which prohibits student cell phone use during the school day.
The introduction of Yondr will enable BHS to:
- create classroom environments where teachers can teach and students can learn free from distractions caused by the personal use of devices. The Yondr system provides a consistent and equitable way to enforce this expectation, allowing teachers to spend less time managing cell phones and more time teaching, all while the phone remains with the student.
- reduce the negative impacts for ALL students of inappropriate use of devices at school, such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and incidents involving personal communication device(s) that detract from a healthy school climate; and
- enforce compliance with Texas law.
House Bill 1481 requires all Texas school districts to prohibit students from using "personal wireless communication devices," which the law defines as “any wireless electronic communication device, other than a device provided to students by a school for instructional purposes, capable of transmitting and/or receiving data.”
Districts have two options – 1) prohibit students from bringing a personal communication device on school property, or 2) designate a method for the storage of a student’s personal communication device while that student is on school property during the school day. WSISD has chosen the less restrictive option with the use of Yondr pouches.
The Yondr pouches will remain in the student's backpack during the school day.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Yondr pouch?
- How will students receive a pouch?
- How will the process work at arrival and dismissal?
- What happens if there is an emergency at my child's school?
- What if a student needs to leave the building before dismissal?
- How does the district define the school day?
- What if a parent or guardian needs to reach their child during the school day?
- Will my student's cell phone be safe?
- What if my student forgets to unlock his/her Yondir pouch at the end of the day?
- What happens if a student refuses to comply with the Yondr pouch procedure?
- What if a student needs their cell phone for a medical issue?
- Why can't the school implement a zero-tolerance policy and allow students to keep their phones?
- What happens if a student does not have their Yondr pouch?
- What if the Yondr pouch is damaged, lost or stolen?
- Where will the Yondr unlocking device stations be?
- Do the pouches block cell service or internet?
- How will student know which pouch is theirs?
- How will the school gauge the effectiveness of Yondr pouches?
- Were taxpayer dollars used to purchase the Yondr pouches?
What is a Yondr pouch?
How will students receive a pouch?
How will the process work at arrival and dismissal?
What happens if there is an emergency at my child's school?
What if a student needs to leave the building before dismissal?
How does the district define the school day?
What if a parent or guardian needs to reach their child during the school day?
Will my student's cell phone be safe?
What if my student forgets to unlock his/her Yondir pouch at the end of the day?
What happens if a student refuses to comply with the Yondr pouch procedure?
What if a student needs their cell phone for a medical issue?
Why can't the school implement a zero-tolerance policy and allow students to keep their phones?
What happens if a student does not have their Yondr pouch?
What if the Yondr pouch is damaged, lost or stolen?
Where will the Yondr unlocking device stations be?
Do the pouches block cell service or internet?
How will student know which pouch is theirs?
How will the school gauge the effectiveness of Yondr pouches?
Were taxpayer dollars used to purchase the Yondr pouches?

Cell Phone Violations – Student Consequences
Students are prohibited from using or displaying cell phones during the instructional day. Warnings will not be issued for cell phone violations.
A parent/guardian must retrieve the device for every violation. Phones will not be returned directly to students.
Progressive Discipline
- 1st Offense — After‑school detention or Saturday School
- 2nd Offense — 3 days of In‑School Suspension (ISS)
- 3rd Offense — 5 days of In‑School Suspension (ISS)
- 4th Offense — 10 days of In‑School Suspension (ISS)
- 5th Offense — Placement in the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) for a minimum of 10 days
Tampering or Lost Pouches
- Possessing any device designed to unlock a pouch — 3 days ISS
- Lost or damaged pouch — $20 replacement fee
General Reminders
- Phones will not be returned to students. A parent/guardian must come to campus to pick up the device.
- Refusal to surrender a phone will result in a disciplinary action for insubordination in addition to the consequence for having their phone out during the school day.
- If a student refuses ISS and refuses to surrender the phone, the student will be suspended out of school.
- Students who check into school claiming they do not possess a phone, or those attempting to deceive about the contents of the pouch, will receive additional consequences.
Emergency Situations & Questions
- How will students be able to communicate with families if there is an active shooter situation or lockdown?
- What if my child is at school and needs to contact 911?
